 OT: Close encounter with Mars, Any astronomers among us? |
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| Scott Carlberg |
 Jul 22 2003, 12:30 PM
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#1
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Porsche MOTORSPORTS  Group: Members Posts: 1,595 Joined: 17-April 03 From: Modesto, Ca Member No.: 580  |
Never again in your lifetime will the Red Planet be so spectacular.
This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars, an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the last 5,000 years but it may be as long as 60,000 years. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to he naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August Mars will rise in the east at 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. But by the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient when it comes to seeing something that no human has seen in recorded history. So mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share with your children and grandchildren. No one alive today will ever see this again. |
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| 72Signal914 |
Jul 22 2003, 01:40 PM
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Think I need a new keyboard Group: Members Posts: 301 Joined: 16-May 03 From: Siesta Key, FL/Gainesville, FL Member No.: 702 |
Where in the hell did you get this info from.
I think it would be cool but I don't have a telescope. Thanks for the info |
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| Steve Thacker |
Jul 22 2003, 01:56 PM
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#3
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UMMMPH Yea Baby Yea ! UMMMPH Group: Members Posts: 1,089 Joined: 8-January 03 From: Pickerington, Ohio Member No.: 113 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
I'm a astrohead to the max. I'll pull out the Celestron and do some tracking. I hope I can get my camera tweaked enough to get some clean shots. The weather and the light pollution here makes for bad viewing, but I'll certainly be out.
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| Mockmaw |
Jul 22 2003, 02:41 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 163 Joined: 18-March 03 From: Berkeley/San Diego, CA Member No.: 438 |
Reminds me of how my parents dragged me out to the Mojave to see Halley's Comet when I was a kid. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
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| Mike T |
Jul 22 2003, 05:46 PM
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#5
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can't 'member Group: Members Posts: 378 Joined: 16-January 03 From: Brackney, PA Member No.: 161 |
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| TimT |
Jul 22 2003, 06:12 PM
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#6
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retired Group: Members Posts: 4,033 Joined: 18-February 03 From: Wantagh, NY Member No.: 313 |
Very cool, Ill head to my house in Vermont for some "non light polluted" viewing
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| SirAndy |
Jul 22 2003, 10:49 PM
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#7
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,636 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
yepp, they have a few midnight sessions at the chabeau (sp?) space center here ...
i was thinking about attending one, their telescope is pretty old but still some 40 feet long. should be fun. Andy |
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| Scott Carlberg |
Jul 23 2003, 01:53 AM
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#8
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Porsche MOTORSPORTS Group: Members Posts: 1,595 Joined: 17-April 03 From: Modesto, Ca Member No.: 580 |
QUOTE(72Signal914 @ Jul 22 2003, 12:40 PM) Where in the hell did you get this info from. just from a former co-worker. I was just asking IF someone knew if in fact this would be something to check out. |
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| need4speed |
Jul 23 2003, 01:47 PM
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#9
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Member Group: Members Posts: 339 Joined: 11-April 03 From: Arroyo Grande, CA Member No.: 564 |
with my puny 60mm Celestron, Mars still looks like a tiny pink dot. Same as last year.
These Astronomy sites tend to hype this stuff, saying that it's visible with your typical "backyard telescope" - but in fact, their idea of a typical telescope is 10". Count on spending at least a grand. There's really only two things to look at with a telescope the size of mine. The Moon, and Jupiter's moons. (both very cool, but y'know, after two or three nights, not really all that exiting anymore.) |
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| seanery |
Jul 23 2003, 01:50 PM
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#10
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waiting to rebuild whitey! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 15,852 Joined: 7-January 03 From: Indy Member No.: 100 Region Association: None |
What about (insert female neighbor's name)'s moon?
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| SirAndy |
Jul 23 2003, 03:41 PM
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#11
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,636 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(seanery @ Jul 23 2003, 12:50 PM) What about (insert female neighbor's name)'s moon? i'm not sure if i wanna see a closeup of her craters (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif) |
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| need4speed |
Jul 24 2003, 02:56 PM
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 339 Joined: 11-April 03 From: Arroyo Grande, CA Member No.: 564 |
Yeah, my wife has the most spectacular moon on the block (tell her I said so), and I don't need a telescope for that.
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